A 23-year old female and 16-year-old youth face multiple charges of Break and Enter, targeting ATM’s in small businesses.

Since the beginning of January 2018, The City of Hamilton and surrounding area have been experiencing a rash of early morning break and enters targeting ATM machines. The suspects involved in these entries have been using stolen vehicles to ram through the entrances to businesses. The ATM’s are subsequently targeted and removed from the businesses. The suspects will then flee the scene in the stolen vehicles which are often set on fire. The suspects involved have caused damage to numerous vehicles, and have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to the local businesses.

Through continued investigation by members of Project Shutdown and OPP Brant County, Hamilton Police have laid 31 charges against a 23 year old female, who is currently in custody. A 16 year old male accomplice has also been arrested and is facing 28 Charges. Some of the charges are related to the Break and Enter at Turtle Jacks, 1180 Upper James on February 7, 2018 and Spring Grill House, 1441 Upper James Street, Hamilton on February 13, 2018.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Project Shutdown is a multi- jurisdictional joint forces project led by the Hamilton Police Service and includes members from the Six Nations Police, and Brantford Police Service, and Halton Police Service. The project is aimed at targeting auto theft, in and around the greater Toronto area.

If you have any information that you believe could assist Police with the investigation into this crime you are asked to contact Detective Phil Hedgcock by calling 905-546-3824, or Detective Sergeant Emidio Evangelista at 905 546-2991.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com